Papa Johns and the Coin Toss Do Matter on Super Bowl Sunday

There isn't a National Football League sponsor that knows a quality “toss” like Papa John’s founder, Chairman and CEO John Schnatter, but he’s counting on America to call the coin toss for Super Bowl XLVI so that the country can flip over free pizza.

Papa John’s, the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL, today unveiled its Super Bowl XLVI Coin Toss Experience, which includes a free large one-topping pizza and 2-liter Pepsi MAX for the millions of fans enrolled in Papa John’s Papa Rewards program … if America correctly “calls” the Super Bowl coin toss. No matter which team wins the Super Bowl, Papa John’s fans have a chance to get some free pizza.

America will make its “heads” or “tails” call for the Super Bowl XLVI coin toss by voting at www.papajohns.com today through Feb. 1. Schnatter will announce the result of America’s vote Feb. 2 on the NFL Network in Indianapolis and via social media and at www.papajohns.com.

If America’s call is correct, everyone enrolled in Papa Rewards as of 6 p.m. ET Super Bowl Sunday will receive an email the following day with instructions on how to claim their pizza and Pepsi MAX prize.

“This won’t be an easy call for America, but as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL, it’s an easy call for Papa John’s to offer a promotion like this to our loyal customers,” Schnatter said. “The Super Bowl is the largest stage in all of sports, and it’s the biggest sales day of the year for us. We’re going all out with quality players like Peyton Manning and The Bus to make sure our customers have a great experience with the highest-quality pizza.”

Occurring between the singing of the National Anthem and kickoff, the Super Bowl coin toss puts viewers on the edge of their seats … and players and coaches simply on edge. In fact, the NFC is on an incredible 14-year winning streak with Super Bowl coin tosses (Super Bowl XXXII – Super Bowl XLV). Some additional interesting Super Bowl coin toss statistics:

    In 45 Super Bowls, heads has been called 23 times and tails 22
    24 of the 45 tosses have come up heads, and 21 tails
    The NFC has 24 Super Bowl wins, with a dominating 31 coin toss wins
    The AFC has 21 Super Bowl wins, compared to only 14 coin toss wins

Last year for Super Bowl XLV, Papa John’s set a single-day sales record by selling more than one million pizzas, driven in part by offering a free large pizza to everyone in America if the game went into overtime. In the fourth quarter, the teams were separated by only 3 points, but the game did not go into overtime. In fact, no Super Bowl has ever gone into overtime.

This year, America’s odds of winning free Papa John’s are much better … on the toss of a coin.

Steve Sabol in Hospital After Seizure

The long-time President of NFL Films is recovering from a seizure in Kansas City, Mo., where he was to accept an award on behalf of his company.

68-year-old Steve Sabol was stricken Saturday night and taken to a hospital. He underwent tests over the weekend and was alert Monday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday.

Steve's father, Ed, is the founder of NFL Films and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month. Steve Sabol began working for his father in 1964. He has won Emmy Awards for writing, cinematography, editing, directing and producing.

Sabol was recently in Dallas supervising the filming of Super Bowl XLV.



The Green Bay Packers Return to The Super Bowl

Here is the Fox broadcasting team of Buck and Aikman proclaiming that the Green Bay Packers are in fact, heading to Dallas and The Super Bowl.

NFC and AFC Championship Game Plays of the Day

The Packers vs. Bears and Jets at Steelers.

Two huge games today.  The four teams playing the best at the end of the season meet in cold weather in Chicago and Pittsburgh to decide who will be playing in this years Super Bowl.

NFC Pick: Packers and Over

The game is in Chicago, but it doesn't matter.  These two teams haven't played a game this big since the 1940's.  What the Packers have is the hottest quarterback in the land and the best team defense.  Those two factors will win you a championship.  

The Packers are 3.5 point favorites heading into the game, they also are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.

The Pack is also 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, and I've been impressed, but I'm not totally sold on Bear's quarterback Jay Cutler yet. 

The Bears also are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0. 

This game could be real close heading to the 4th quarter, but that's when I love Aaron Rodgers.  Take Green Bay, give the 3.5.

The total in this game is 42.5.  Conventional wisdom may say with the weather being cold and good defenses, take the under.  I think both of these teams and move the ball, and at least one of them will score a lot.  Take the OVER.

AFC Pick: Steelers and Under

Oh those Steelers and Jets.  It is a even matchup through and through.  Except for one thing, many Steelers have been here before and experience matters in a game like this.

The line currently has the Steelers giving 4.  I think that is about right, but I like Pittsburgh by a razor thin margin. 

Both teams have trends in their favor, but here are two to chew on. The Steelers are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games in January and are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 playoff home games.  Strong trends and a strong team.  I like Big Ben, Hines Ward and the Steelers D.  Take the Steelers, give the 4.

The total here is 38.  Kind of low, but you should expect low with these teams.  In this series, the under is the play, with the under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings between these teams.  Take the UNDER and enjoy the football today.

Faith Hill, Pretenders to Appear on 'Crossroads'

I love CMT's Crossroads.  Crossroads pairs up two musical acts you never would imagine performing together.

Now, the Pretenders and Faith Hill are teaming up for live episode of "CMT Crossroads."

The show will take place during the NFL Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam on Feb. 5 from Grand Prairie, Texas, the night before the Super Bowl.

This will be just the second live "CMT Crossroads." The show pairs country music stars with acts from other genres. The mashup often yields interesting results.

Two of music's most successful women will be on display during the broadcast. Chrissie Hynde formed The Pretenders more than 30 years ago and the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

Hill is a five-time Grammy-winning country singer who is familiar to football fans as the voice of NBC's Sunday Night Football. This will be her first "Crossroads" appearance.

Past episodes of Crossroads have included: Taylor Swift and Def Leppard, Sara Evans and Maroon 5, and Martina McBride and Train.